Amazing trip to London, Bath, The Cotswolds and Oxford U.K. Kateryna knows her stuff!
England | May 1 - May 13, 2026

Richard
Richard S.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on May 20, 2026

Amazing trip to London! Kateryna was a great planner and checked off our list of things to do in London, Bath, the Cotswolds and Oxford. Kate was always available at a moments notice and stepped in when we needed help along the way. She called ahead to our hotels so that they would be prepared as we arrived and she sorted out any touristy questions that we had as we arrived and departed each location. We've used kimkim before for our trip to Spain (and it was also great), but Kate made us feel like we had someone we could reach out to at any time. We also ventured into The Netherlands for four days, but the planning on that segment did incur some problems. Tickets to museums were not pre-purchased and we had to scramble needlessly. "Self Guided" tours in several Holland cities left it us to research activities on our own. In review, we should have stayed in the U.K. for the whole trip as Kate has that country figured out completely. We would use and will use kimkim again for our next trip

Hotel Reviews
The Academy London

GREAT breakfast NO elevators SPACIOUS rooms LOUD street noise day and night CENTRAL location

Authenticity & Character
Classic row homes converted into a hip, clean, hotel.
Location
Close to the Underground system and easy to catch a cab outside the front door
Staff
EVERYBODY was SUPER hospitable. Breakfast ladies were amazing and top notch.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Poor housekeepers need to go up and down a lot of stairs!
Hotel Indigo Bath
Bath

BEST hotel during our entire trip! Scrumptious breakfast, QUIET hotel room, SUPER central location and incredible staff.

Authenticity & Character
INCREDIBLE job in converting a classic building into a truly modern hotel.
Location
Right in the heart of town and walking distance from the train station.
Staff
These people understand how to take care of their guests.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wish we could have stayed longer, room was the most comfortable during our two week trip encompassing 5 hotels.
The Store
Oxford

CENTRAL location in Oxford....clean, comfortable, safe hotel with an amazing breakfast all run by a professional and top-notch staff. Because the location is right in the middle of Oxford, many of the local food choices are geared towards the student population....lot's of fast food joints and restaurants that seem to target the students. Wish we could have tried the hotel's restaurant for dinner, but it didn't open until 5:30pm and our ride to London departed at 6pm. Based on the breakfasts we had at the hotel, the dinner menu would have been the best around.

Authenticity & Character
Hotel has everything! Great restaurant and bar, Spa with massage services, comfortable, quiet rooms
Location
Right smack dab in the center of Oxford.
Staff
Front desk staff can do hand stands and back flips! Anything we needed, the were there to step up.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean, quiet, and safe rooms.....mini fridge didn't cool, but the front desk staff was getting it addressed.
Pullman London St Pancras
London

Right next door to the major train station! Street traffic seemed to be in gridlock around the hotel in every direction, but having the train station with the EuroStar service next door was genius on our planner's part (Kate). Another hotel with EXCELLENT breakfast service, but having dinner at the hotel was an experience that took two hours! Seems that the kitchen was having a tough time keeping up with the orders from the dining room. Mentioned the delays to our server and he graciously took a couple drinks off our tab.

Authenticity & Character
Modern hotel, with great views of the city, quiet on the upper floors, safe, clean and comfortable.
Location
Train station right next door! Location, location, location.
Staff
Another professional crew of hospitality folks.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was large, clean and comfortable. Bathroom also large in comparison to other local hotels....nice shower.
Hotel des Arts
Amsterdam-Centrum

Super location, super staff, super ideal! The staff at this hotel was like having a local friend that helps you out when you are in town. Housekeeping: top notch - Breakfast staff: EXCELLENT cleanliness and food options. This staff provided us with the BEST start of the day, every day. - Front Desk: What can I say? Like your friend you've been waiting to talk to in Amsterdam.

Authenticity & Character
Totally authentic house close to the canal that has been transformed into a comfortable hotel.
Location
Right in the middle of the city. Steps from the Metro station.
Staff
EVERYTHING they did: directions, recommendations, food options, museum options, the staff is the BEST!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Housekeeping is on it! Everyday, every spec of dust, ....we were getting spoiled by their attentiveness.
Activity Reviews
Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels
Tower of London Beefeater Welcome & Crown Jewels
London

Breathtaking! The Crown Jewels (minus the jewels), the history, the buildings, the Beefeaters, the ravens! All made for an enjoyable day at this memorable location. Our tour planner Kate made sure that we were there at the 10am opening and that was genius! We had hardly any lines and got in the queue of 5 or 10 people to visit the Crown Jewels exhibit. The early start made for a leisurely stroll through all the buildings at the Tower of London. As we were wrapping up tour, we noticed at least 500 people in line to see the Crown Jewels! It must have been pandemonium at that time to get a glimpse of the displays in the Tower of London. Thank you Kate!

Quality of Experience
Self guided tour a little tough, lots to see and huge expanse to cover
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide, driver, or staff not provided. Group tour with the amount of tourist was impossible. (was listed as "small group"- wasn't small at all).
Transport
Transport not provided....used the city taxi's which were easy to find, but a little pricey (still less than Uber's rates!)
The Royal London Tour: Changing of the Guard and More
The Royal London Tour: Changing of the Guard and More
London

Delianne was a fun and quirky tour guide for a walking tour of more than two hours! She had great stories and took us to the great spots to watch the parade and to take pictures along the way. Delianne also went out of her way to teach us how the Underground metro system worked and then we were on our way using the system the rest of the trip....fun! Delianne was punctual, knowledgeable, cute, and in great shape for what was probably 10,000 steps (but I didn't monitor on my app).

Quality of Experience
How great London is!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Delianne was a GREAT guide, loaded with information presented in a fun and quirky manner.
Transport
Got to the meeting point by taxi, but guide taught us how to use the Underground and that was the best information needed about transport!
 Cotswolds Experience from Bath, private tour
Cotswolds Experience from Bath, private tour
Bath

The HIGHLIGHT of our 2 weeks in Europe! Our private tour guide Adge, and his trusty driver Leroy made for a most memorable day in Bath and the Cotswolds. Our guide Adge was a retired police officer from Bath and new every inch and crevice of the city and beyond. Our driver Leroy was the utmost professional driver and navigated our day through tight twists and turns where we always felt safe and secure. We got 16 hours of the best tour possible in 8 hours that day. Adge was humorous, spontaneous, knowledgeable, warm, welcoming, and EVERYTHING you could of asked for in a private tour guide. BEST day of our trip!

Quality of Experience
Our private tour guide: Adge and our trusty driver Leroy
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Adge, Adge, Adge, Adge, Adge, Adge,Adge, Adge, Adge, Adge, Adge, Adge,....and Leroy.
Transport
Leroy made us feel special in the Luxury SUV and his cool and calm driving demeanor.
British Museum Private Tour
British Museum Private Tour
London

AMAZING museum and knowledgeable tour guide. Only with we weren't worn out and that the tour could be an hour or two longer. Pedro was an experienced expert and a very personable, private tour guide and showed us many of the items in a quick tour of maybe 20% of this HUGE museum.

Quality of Experience
One of the best museums visited in the world!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pedro (I kept calling him Pablo!), was a knowledgeable and interesting guide, showed us as much as possible in such a HUGE museum.
Transport
The London taxi system and the Underground metro
Iconic Oxford  Private Walking Tour
Iconic Oxford Private Walking Tour
Oxford

Nice 2 hour walking tour, but the tour facility was unprepared when we showed up for our scheduled tour. Had a nice, former student, walk us around for a couple hours, but honestly we could have seen so much more....we only ventured out 5 or 6 blocks from the tour facility and spent way too much time reliving the former students, hangouts rather that the immense history of Oxford. Still an enjoyable walk on an enjoyable day.

Quality of Experience
Beautiful day. Beautiful scenery and amazing centralized location.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Further exploration of the city with a seasoned tour guide.
Transport
Walking the whole way.
Private Oxford University Punting Tour
Private Oxford University Punting Tour
England

Excellent adventure, but very short ride. Beautiful scenery and super punting tour guide. 30 minute ride was way too short, but the punting circuit is limited to a ride around the man-made island. Still had a nice relaxing ride on another beautiful day. Passed alongside a botanical garden during the punting tour ride and went there immediately following the punting excursion. Turned out to be a great diversion and wonderful way to stroll along the gardens for another hour. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience
Excellent experience, but very short and sweet at 30 minutes.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Strong, knowledgeable, Punting guide....student earning his way through college with a side hustle.
Transport
I couldn't do this myself and watched others attempt to "Punt", the students working there are the best.
Open Boat Cruise Drinks Included Central Station Departure
Open Boat Cruise Drinks Included Central Station Departure
Amsterdam

The absolute BEST was to start your Amsterdam vacation. Cruise the canals and see the city in the comfort of a well guided captain. Couple of drinks, great weather, and a good tour guide made this a memorable part of our visit to Amsterdam and was really the way to kick off your holiday in the city.

Quality of Experience
The cruise down the various canals and the historical stories told as you motor along.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great captain, great staff, great weather, great way to start off your stay in Amsterdam
Transport
Safe boat, professional crew, clean onboard, and incredible vistas!
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
Discover London in a Private Black Cab
London

Great driver who knew the city inside and out. He found ways to make it through the city that we could never replicate again. Super conversation from a local character that we well versed in the history of the city.

Quality of Experience
Lot's of history
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Well educated driver on the history of London (and a lot of the U.S. too!)
Transport
Comfortable, newer London taxi with a driver that navigated some of the most difficult passages.
Thames Cruise with Dinner
Thames Cruise with Dinner
London

Prepare to "herd" aboard a dinner cruise in which you don't get to choose what you want for dinner. The minions (us and forty or so other guests) get to sit right in the middle (where usual dinner cruises have a dance floor and everyone gets a table close to a window). We were given "menus" which had several choices, but when I asked about them, was told that the menu is to show you what drinks you can order. Everybody gets a chicken dish....everybody. The staff was as if they were in forced labor, no smiles and no frowns. Entertainment was a Karaoke singer. Having done dinner cruises in other cities in other countries, this was unexpected.....hope it didn't cost too much?

Quality of Experience
Turn the business into a legit dinner cruise
Food
Choices - at least 2 or 3 choices.....please?
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Smiles everybody!
Transport
Staff involvement? Sights to see?
Local specialist: Kateryna Garkavenko
Kateryna
Kateryna Garkavenko
Local specialist in London | Replied on Jun 09, 2026
Dear Richard, Thank you so very, very much for this incredibly kind and thoughtful review. I honestly read it with the biggest smile. It was such a true pleasure working with you, and I have to say - you were absolutely one of the best travelers to plan for. Your kindness, sense of humor, openness, and the way you embraced every part of the journey made it so special from my side as well. I’m so happy that London, Bath, the Cotswolds, and Oxford came together so beautifully for you.... Read more

Dear Richard,

Thank you so very, very much for this incredibly kind and thoughtful review. I honestly read it with the biggest smile.

It was such a true pleasure working with you, and I have to say - you were absolutely one of the best travelers to plan for. Your kindness, sense of humor, openness, and the way you embraced every part of the journey made it so special from my side as well.

I’m so happy that London, Bath, the Cotswolds, and Oxford came together so beautifully for you. Reading your words about the hotels, the Tower of London timing, the black cab experience, and especially your amazing Cotswolds day with Adge and Leroy honestly made my day. These are exactly the kinds of memories I always hope my travelers will take home with them.

I’m also very grateful that you felt supported along the way. For me, planning the trip is only one part of the experience - I always want my travelers to feel that there is a real person here, watching over the details, ready to help, and genuinely caring that everything goes smoothly.

Thank you as well for being so honest and fair in your feedback about the parts that did not work as well. I’m truly sorry that the Netherlands portion created unnecessary stress. You absolutely should not have had to scramble during your holiday, and I completely understand how frustrating that must have felt.

Most of all, thank you for your trust, your warmth, and your wonderful energy throughout the whole process. It was a privilege to be part of your adventure, and I would be absolutely delighted to help you again whenever your next trip brings you back to the UK - or anywhere else I can make the journey feel truly special.

Warmest wishes,
Kate